{"id":117800,"date":"2026-10-02T03:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T01:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/?p=117800"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:19:38","slug":"swiss-glaciers-lose-a-further-five-per-cent-of-their-volume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/en\/environment\/swiss-glaciers-lose-a-further-five-per-cent-of-their-volume\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss glaciers lose a further five per cent of their volume"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Intense heatwaves from May to September, combined with a winter with little snow, led to another devastating year for the glaciers. This is evident from the latest data from the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS) and the Swiss Commission for Cryosphere Observation of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swiss glaciers once again experienced extreme melting in 2026. More than 5 per cent of the ice has disappeared. The mean thickness of individual glaciers fell by between 2.5 and 4 metres. On glacier tongues, it decreased by as much as 10 metres in some places over the summer. In the past five years alone, the volume of ice in Switzerland has now fallen by almost 20 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Extent of ice loss at Konkordiaplatz on the Great Aletsch Glacier (VS) between 2022 and 2026, compared with the average of measurements taken between 1953 and 1983. (Photos: M. Huss \/ A. Linsbauer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Smaller glaciers have already disappeared<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As in the previous year, snow depths at all elevations in winter 2025\/26 were far below the longterm average. The main reason was low precipitation. In terms of mean snow depth, the winter season (November 2025 to April 2026) was among the ten least snowy winters since measurements began. Every month from May to September was marked by dry conditions and at least one heatwave. During these months, the freezing level was above 4,000 metres on 76 days. This is more than twice the average and therefore a record. The protective snow cover on the glaciers had already partly disappeared during the heatwaves in June. By September, no snow remained even at 3,500 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alpine glaciers have no chance of surviving in the long term under such conditions. This is reflected in the disappearance of many small glaciers, such as the Bella Tola Glacier (VS) and the Griessfiren\/Plattalvafirn (GL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 measurement period ranks only just behind the record year of 2022. Despite higher temperatures, the losses of 2022 were not quite matched because many glaciers had slightly more snow than in 2022. In addition, less Saharan dust was deposited on the snow in 2026, allowing more sunlight to be reflected. However, there were exceptions: in 2026, some glaciers (Allalin, Clariden, Aletsch and Rh\u00f4ne) experienced their greatest melt on record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meltwater eases water shortages<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Between July and September, the glaciers lost a total of around 2,200 billion litres of water. This is more than four times the annual drinking water consumption of all Swiss households. For now, glacier melt is therefore still helping to ease summer water shortages. However, this effect is already diminishing significantly as the ice-covered area shrinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n